Selects: The Manhattan Grid
Summary
Hosts Josh Clark and Charles Bryant explore the history of Manhattan’s street grid, focusing on the 1811 Commissioner’s Plan. They discuss how the plan was largely plagiarized from an earlier survey by Casimir Gork and executed by a lazy commission that ignored natural terrain and public green spaces. The episode covers the grid’s impact on urban growth, navigation tips for tourists, and the controversial use of eminent domain to enforce the layout.
Topics discussed
Intro and Advertisements
Introduction to the Manhattan Grid Episode
How to Navigate Manhattan's Grid System
Public Opinion on the Grid's Aesthetics
Advertisements
History of Grid Planning and Lower Manhattan
The 1811 Commission and Surveying Process
The Commissioners and Their Flawed Plan
Advertisements
Critique of the Plan and Eminent Domain
Rise of Apartment Buildings and Urban Growth
Listener Mail and Closing Ads
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